Pint of Guinness at The Fiddler’s Elbow, Santa Maria Novella in the background, Watercolour on Paper (2023)
During my MA studies at Gray’s school of art (2019-21) I was fortunate to be awarded a John Kinross scholarship by the Royal Scottish Academy, enabling me to study in Florence. I undertook the scholarship in October 2022, and have added a selection of works relating to the scholaship to the website at this page: https://mattwells.art.blog/florence/
During my MA studies (Grays School of Art, 2019-2021) I was fortunate to receive a an award from the Royal Scottish Academy to spend time studying in Florence.
I took the opportunity to visit this autumn, and was in my element visiting chapels particularly to investigate the fresco’s of Giotto, Daddi, Gaddi, Masaccio and their workshops. Opened up a way forward to develop my methods of narrative drawing.
A highlight for me was the Palazzo Vecchio, which I visited a couple of times to admire the murals.
I will of course add some photos of my time there, and the outcomes, but for now here are so images of my journey from Elgin to Florence: Train from Elgin to Aberdeen- Bus from Aberdeen to Edinburgh bus station- arrive around 1am- start walking from Edinburgh bus station towards the airport- walk past Haymarket and Murrayfield- walk a few miles and give to wait for a bus, sweating through my hoodie and jacket- bus to airport, try to doze sitting against wall- early flight, self conscious about sweaty ness from big walk, fly to London, couple hours wait, eat a burger- fly to Florence, even more self conscious of sweaty stinkiness and regretting not just getting a bus to Edinburgh airport in the first place- arrive in Florence, tired but happy.